Kukla's Korner Hockey

Zidlicky is unhappy, something I learned this morning when the veteran defenseman came looking for me to offer his opinion on the fact that tonight against his former team, the Nashville Predators, he’ll be scratched for a third consecutive game.

Zidlicky was critical of coach Mike Yeo, the way he has been treated and the fact that he loves the game too much to sit idly by if the Wild keeps scratching him.

While Zidlicky didn’t say he has asked for a trade, he indicated he is willing to waive his no-trade clause if this continues.

“I can’t be quiet,” Zidlicky began during our sitdown, which you can read more details about in tomorrow’s Star Tribune. “I think three games healthy scratch, it’s more than just like a healthy scratch. [Yeo’s] put me in this position that I am in right now. It’s not easy for me….

I’ve covered the NHL since 1995. Never before have I sat in a coach’s office 45 minutes before an important game talking about a scratched player. You can bet Mike Yeo wished he could have been doing something else, but he chose this time and venue to respond to this morning’s conversation I had with scratched defenseman Marek Zidlicky. Check out that blog below or by clicking this link.

Here are Yeo’s comments. Check out the story in Wednesday’s newspaper. I’ll also be on KFAN at 9 a.m.

“One thing for sure, we’re going to talk. This is not the right way to handle it. Much the same as I wouldn’t want a player to pick up the newspaper one day and read something like, ‘Woah, I didn’t know the coach thought that.’ Like, come into talk to me if there’s a problem. There’s always more than enough communication from our side. It’s got to go both ways.”